Radio program selection system



Juiy i2, 195! J. H. LANDELLS ggsfiovwig RADIO PROGRAM SELECTION SYSTEM Filed Aug. 31, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l fiiqal- JNVENTOR. JOSEPH H. LA/VDELLS My 1951 J. H. LANDELLS RADIO PROGRAM SELECTION SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Filed Aug. 51, 1948 JOSEPHH.

ATTORNEY Patented July 17, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RADIO PROGRAM SELECTION SYSTEM Joseph H. Landells, San Francisco, Calif., as-

signor of one-half to Eugene M; Eichenbaum,

San Francisco, Calif.

l 4 Claims.

The invention, in general, relates to radio receiving equipment, and more particularly relates to a system embodying a recorder device associated with a radio receiver with attendant tuning circuits for aifording selective recording of radio programs at desirable times throughout any twenty-four hour period.

As is perhaps well known, there has been some attention given in recent years to the provision of recorder devices in combination or association with radio for effecting sound reproduction at times subsequent to the initial presentation. In general, these combinations have been worked out principally in the field of radio broadcasting with the recording device or transcriber associated with the radio broadcasting unit at the location of the broadcast. More recently, there has been some development of the same concept with respect to radio receiving sets in order that persons may be able to arrange for the recordation or transcription of one or more programs while away from home for subsequent play-back at a more convenient time. In general, most of these receiver-recorder combinations heretofore constructed and marketed are complex and cumbersomein structure as well as of costly manufacture and expensive to install and maintain. The present invention is directed to the provision of a relatively simply constructed and inexpensively produced receiver-recorder unit which can be marketed at such reasonable price as to be well within the financial resources of the average wage earner.

A primary object of my invention is to provide an improved radio program selection system embodying a recorder mechanism and electrical circuit in electrical connection with a radio receiver and responsive to pre-selected time intervals to afford the recordation or" one or more radio programs for subsequent transmission or reproduction at any desired time.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an improved radio program selection system of the indicated nature which is additionally characterized by the incorporation of means affording selectivity of programs at any time during any 24 hour period or range of programs with automatic cut-out and automatic tuning in of programs as pro-selected.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved system of the aforementioned character containing a minimum number of parts that can be produced inexpem sively and which is highly dependable in operation with a relatively low maintenance expense.

Other objects of the invention, together with some of the advantageous features thereof, will appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

It is 2 to be understood that I am not to be limited to the precise embodiment shown, nor to the precise arrangement of the various parts thereof, as my invention, as defined in the appended claims, can be embodied in a plurality and variety of forms.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 a diagrammatic plan view of clock mechanism and panel, forming parts of the preferred embodiment of the invention, parts being broken away to illustrate a segmental contact or brush carrying disc associated with the clock mechanism.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary detail illustrating the segmental brush carrying disc to gether with a selector lever holder employed in the preferred embodiment of the invention, this view showing various movable positions of the selector levers.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic viewshowing a portion of the electrical circuits and, in sectional elevational view, certain timing discs associated with the clock mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a detail of one of the timing discs carried on the minute shaft of the clock and illustrating raised buttons on the disc for making and breaking electrical circuits momentarily.

Fig. 5 is a schematic wiring diagram showing the main electrical circuits of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a detail illustrating one position of the selector levers forming a part of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary detail illus- Q a mechanism for establishing electrical circuits receiver circuit including tuning circuit for the receiver, and a recorder circuit for eifecting the recordation of pre-selected radio programs for subsequent transmission.

As particularly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2'of the accompanying drawings, my improved radio program selection system includes a clock mechanism, illustrated in block diagram in Figl 3 and designated generally by the reference nu= meral II, which includes an hour-shaft [2 on which is fixedly mounted for rotation therewith a timing disc [3. The clock mechanism also includes a minute-shaft M on which is fixedly mounted for rotation therewith a timing disc It, as well as a second-shaft I! on which a rod or disc I3 is fixedly mounted for rotation therewith. A conventional face or dial I9 is provided for the clock II, together with hour, minute and second hands 2I, 22 and 23 secured on the hour, minute and second shafts I2, I4 and II, respectively, with the usual hour delineations of l to 12 inclusive on the clock dial I9.

In accordance with my invention, timing d1sc I3 is formed with a plurality of seg-ments 26 thereon, each carrying a plurality of split electrical contacts or brushes 21; covering arcs representing fifteen minutes of disc travel as it rotates with the hour shaft of the clock lI. Tim-' ing disc I3 also carries a raised button or nodule 28 on its periphery for effecting circuit closing and breaking once in each twelve hour period, as hereinafter explained, or as hour hand 2| passes through the 12 oclock point in the travel of the timing disc I3. The timing disc IS on the minute shaft I4 of the clock is provided on its periphery, see Fig. 4 ofthe annexed drawings, with four raised buttons or nodules 3I, 32', 33 and 34 arranged 90 degrees apart for momentarily closing an electrical circuit, as hereinafter explained, each fifteen minutes of travel of timing disc I6. The rod or disc !8 on the second-shaft II effects momentary closing of an. electrical circuit once each minute as hereinafter explained.

lna'ddition to, theioregoing elements, I provide aselector lever mounting block 36in association with the'cloc'k mechanism II and with the timing discs above described; theblock-being supported in front of and in close proximity to the clock. Mounting block 35 conveniently is formed to a circular shape and movably supports a plurality of selector levers 31 which are arranged circumferentially at fifteen minute intervals around the clock face. Each selector lever includes a selector contact arm 38 for engaging separately either the upper or the lower half; designated in Fig. 3 of the annexed drawings as a. m. and p. halves, of the split contacts 21 on timing disc I3 mounted on the hourshaft' I2 of the clock; Each selector lever 31 is" mounted to slide laterally in the'rnou'nting" block 35, see Fig. '7, as well as for pivotal or rocking movement on pins 39 supported between ears 4| extending from the mounting block 36. Lateral movement of the selector levers 31 places the system in electrical connection with the radio receiver, not shown, through selector relays controllin the receiver, or with the recorder of the system, not shown, through selector relays controlling the recorder, as hereinafter explained and as indicated by the small arrows 42 of Fig. 6 of the accompanying drawings.

A schematic wiring diagram for my improved system is set out in Fig. of the drawings which shows that the electrical circuit of the systemincludes six relays designated by the reference characters and numerals as relay I, relay 2', relay 3, relay 4, relay 5 and relay 6, together with suitable electrical conductors connecting the relays to the contacts of the timin discs above describedand to the contact arms of the selector levers, all as indicated in Figs. 3 and 5 of the drawings. Each of the relays 3, 4, 5 and 6, hereinafter termed the selector relays, is provided with four sets of contacts I DI, I02, I03 and IM which electrically connect the relays to the tuning circuit of a radio receiver, or to a recorder unit as the case may be, represented by the coil I05 in Fig. 5 of the drawings, through reactances I06. It is to be understood that each row of selector levers 31 which, as stated above. maybeanynumber desired and arranged circumferentially about the clock face at fifteen minute intervals, is so connected in the relay circuits as to effect the insertion of reactance elements I06 into one or more tuned circuits of a radio receiver, not shown, to tune the receiver to-a desired station or frequency cycle. It is, of course, to be further understood that additional contacts, other than contacts IBI, I32, I03 and I04 may be included in relays 3, 4, 5 and 6 to efiect'application of electrical power to a radio receiver,- a recorder, or both. Moreover, that since each circumferential row of selector levers 31 is arranged in the selector relay circuits as to control the tuning to a particular station or broadcasting frequency of a radio receiver, the more rows of selector levers utilized or incorporated in the-system, the more individual stations may be selected.-

With particular reference to Fig. 3 of the annexed drawings, itwill be observed that the portions of the split-contactsil of contact segments 26' which are designated by the reference characters a. m. are electrically connected as a group to contact brush, designated F, on timing disc I3-which,-in turn, is electrically connected to and constitutes the F contact of relay I, see Fig. 5 of the drawings. Moreover, that the portions of the split-contacts 21 of contact segments 26 which are designated by the reference charac ters p. m. are electrically connected as a group to contact brush, designated E, on timing disc I3 which, in turn, is electrically connected to and constitutesthe E contact of relay I; such E contacts of such relay being, in. turn, electrically connected to the 163 contacts of relays 3 to 6 inclusive.

The operation. of the improved system of the 'present invention. may be explained as follows:

dial; row corresponding to 1:90 oclock and also that a selector lever 31 in row B, see Fig. l, is raised, or placed in the a. in. position, in the radial row corresponding to 1:15 oclociz. As the hour hand of the clock. passes through 1:00 oclock, the a. In. portion of the split-contact 21 for circumferential row A on contact segment 25 will engage the contact on selector lever arm 38 and thus will complete the electrical circuit to the I coil of relay 6 through the F contacts of relays I and 2 and the 533 contacts of relays G, 5 and 6 to ground, causing relay 6 to be energized. Nearly simultaneously, contacts of relay with the relay closed, will effect the insertion of a reactance I55 into the tuning circuit of the radio receiver causing it to be tuned to the station or frequency previously selected to be controlled by row A of the selector lever mounting block or bank 36. After relay 6 has been energized, it is not necessary for the F contact brush on the timing disc I3 to be maintained as the I532 contact of relay 6 will maintain that coil circuit. As the timing dics I3, however, approaches 1:15 ocloclc, the segment contact will effect closing of the selector circuit, as before, but relay 5 will not be energized as the I03 contact of relay 6 is now open and the contact actuating nodules, either 3|, 32, 33 or 34, on timing disc IE of the minute-shaft of the clock must first close or engage with contact I I0, see Fig. 3, as well as contact brush on rod or disc I8 of the second-shaft of the clock with the contact I I I, see Fig. 3 of the drawings. When the contacts H and II I are closed, a circuit to ground through contact G to the bottom of the coil of relay G is established thus shorting that coil and de-energizing relay and, as a result, all the I03 contacts of the relays close permitting relay 5 to operate and relay 5 re-tunes the radio receiver to the station previously set to be controlled by such relay 5, i. e., set by the predetermined circumferential row B and by the raising of the selector lever 31 of the B row at the radial row correspondingto 1:15 oclock. as above assumed. The operations of relays 3 and 4 are similar.

On the other hand, still assuming initial energization of relay I, assuming that a selector lever 3! has been moved to a down position, or to a position effecting engagement of the contact on its lever arm 38 with that portion of a split-contact 21 designated by the reference characters p. in. In this situation, selector relays 3 to 5 would not operate as the contact of relay I connected to brush contact E of timing disc I3 is open. However, as timing disc I3 passes through the 12:06 oclock position of the clock, the raised button or nodule 28 on its periphery effects a momentary engagement with a contact Il2, see Fig. 3, and when the nodules, either of 3|, 32, 33 or 34, on timing disc I 6 of the minute-shaft I4 effects closing of contact H3 as well as rod or disc IS on the second-shaft I'I effects closing of contact I I i, grounded circuit is established through H contact of relay I, see Figs. 3 and 5. This causes relay 2 to operate and open its contacts thus de-energizing relay I and transferring control of the program selectors to the now closed E? contact of relay which is electrically connected to the brush contact E on timing disc I3 to which the p. m. portions of the split-contacts 27 are electrically connected as a group, see Fig. 3. Obviously, any selector lever 31 in the down or p. m. position will now control the selector relays 3 to 6 inclusive. For effectiveness of operation, relay 2 must be adjusted to operate more slowly than relay I and this is accomplished by connecting a variable resistor H5 across the coil of relay 2, see Fig. 5, or by any other suitable means. As the timing disc l3 passes again through the 12:00 oclock position of the clock, the coil circuit of relay i is energized through the H contact, as above explained, and through the contacts of relay 2. Since relay 2 is slow to operate, its contacts do not have time to open in the brief period during which the second-shaft contact I I I is closed and, accordingly, relay I remains energized.

By virtue of the arrangement of timing discs with their contact elements and the mounting of the selector levers 31 on mounting block or bank 36 for pivotal as well as lateral movement, all in association with the above described clock mechanism, it is possible to effect the establishment of predetermined tuning circuit of a radio receiver in order that a selected radio program may be heard at the particular time that it is being broadcast or, by proper lateral shifting of the selector levers 31 in mounting bank 36, such predetermined and preselected radio programs can be recorded so that they may be played back through the radio receiver at any convenient subsequent time.

It is to be understood that the appended claims are to be accorded a range of equivalents commensurate in scope with the advance made over the prior art.

I claim:

1. A radio program selection system comprising clock mechanism including hour, minute and second shafts, a first timing disc on said hour shaft divided into a plurality of contact segments each carrying split-contacts in circumferentially arranged rows affording a. m. and p. m. differentiations, a contact actuating nodule on the periphery of said first timing disc, a second timing disc on said minute shaft, contact actuating nodules on the periphery of said second timing disc at degree intervals thereof, a third timing disc on said second shaft, a contact actuating nodule on the periphery of said third timing disc, a selector lever mounting block supported in proximity to said first timing disc, a plurality of selector levers each having a contact arm pivotally and slidably mounted on said mounting block in spaced intervals circumferentially about said block for selectively engaging any selected portion of any one of said split-contacts, and an electrical circuit containing a plurality of selector relays electrically connected to said contact arms of said levers and to said split-contacts for effecting the establishment of preselected tuning circuits of a radio receiver or for effecting establishment of a preselected recorder circuit.

2. A radio program selection system comprising a clock mechanism, an electrical circuit containing a plurality of relays; said relays being adapted to control the tuning circuit of a radio receiver, a plurality of timing discs connected to said clock mechanism and responsive to the movement of the hour, minute and second shafts thereof, contact actuating nodules on each of said timing discs a plurality of contacts in said electrical circuit, and means for causing the nodules of the timing disc on the hour shaft of said clock mechanism to engage said contacts and close said electrical circuit at any selected time for controlling one of said relays, and means for maintaining the selected relay in operation for a predetermined interval.

3. A radio program selection system as defined in claim 2, and including means for automatically de-energizing the controlled relay at the termination of a pre-determined time interval.

4. A radio program selection system as defined in claim 2, and including means for automatically de-energizing the controlled relay at the termination of a pre-determined time interval, and means for automatically establishing and maintaining a portion of said electrical circuit containing another of said relays.

JOSEPH H. LANDELLS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,939,536 Bond Dec. 12, 1933 2,097,901 Thomas Nov. 2, 1937 2,145,973 Clayson Feb. 7, 1939 

